Dear Simon,

Incredibly, you are already five months old! You are growing up so fast, kiddo, and the only reason I can tolerate that at all is because you just become more and more fun with each new day and each new discovery you make and each new thing you learn to do.

This month we took our first vacation as a family of three. We loaded up way too much stuff in the (borrowed) minivan, paid way too much to fill it up with gas, and headed out to Colorado to visit the Sittlers and the Classens. You were such a great traveler--you slept almost the whole time in the van, and if you were ever awake, you were your usual smiley, drooley self. You did get your first little sunburn the day we went hiking around. I felt so terrible about that, but you didn’t complain at all, and by the next morning it had faded away entirely. You are still too young to notice, but Mama and Shelli had a lot of fun counting all our boys and shaking our heads at the fact that we’ve been friends for twenty-three years.

You also went to your first sporting event--a baseball game. Now, as anyone can tell you, we Moreheads aren’t necessarily ones to enjoy the sports, but you tolerated it well. You entertained us by shouting over the noise of the crowd. And you saw your first fireworks but were unimpressed.

The only question of any real importance to you these days seems to be How can I get that in my mouth? You are learning to grasp things and are ever exploring your world by gumming it one object at a time. Often you’ll be holding a toy, and just when you almost have it in your mouth, you let go but continue to bring your hand into your mouth; inevitably, you let out a cry because the taste of your hand is not what you were working so hard for. It frustrates you, but, man, is it cute.

Another new trick you’ve been practicing is getting the star at the top of your playmat to bend to your will. You yell at it until Mama or Daddy switches it on; then you just happily kick while your bud the Star flashes at you and plays a tune that gets stuck in Mama’s head.

You are holding your head up steady, which has totally transformed tummy time--you practically like it now. You love to sit up (soon you’ll be doing it on your own!) or especially to stand--so many different perspectives to explore!  You are just about to laugh, and you are thinking about rolling over (check that. In the time it’s taken Mama to get this letter finished, you have started rolling from your tummy to your back. What fun you are having showing off your new skill!).

Simon, you have the most amazing, engaging smile, and you share it freely, although overall you are a pretty serious little fellow, You are becoming more observant all the time, and I love watching you study your toys and especially people. You are a great kid, and your daddy and I say every day how thankful we are for you,

Mama loves you, little man.